Picture frame



Sept. 21, 1948. N 2,449,907

PICTURE FRAME Filed Feb. 17, 1948 f g l N R4 53, F

IN VEN TOR. NoRMANEI 04 nv .4 Tran/v5):

Patented Sept. 21, 1948 f f UNITED STA S T morons I Norman E. 01in, New York, N. Y.

Application February 17, 1948, Serial No. 8,870

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in picture frames, and the like, and more especially it pertains to means, or props, for supporting said frames.

A special advantage of my device lies in the construction of said supporting means, whereby the latter is adapted not only to support a frame but may, without being disengaged from said frame and while being permanently connected to the latter, be turned into a position parallel with the back of a frame and flush with the latter.

This feature of my device is of great importance when mailing or shipping frames, especially in quantities, as under such conditions the breakage and damage of the supporting means of a frame, which means is generally projecting out from the back of the frame, is quite large, with an incidental financial loss.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, and in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a somewhat perspective plan view of the back of a picture frame, showing my device attached thereto.

Figure 2 is plan elevational side view of Figure 1, but with the frame and support in collapsed position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a slight modification in the construction of my device.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the frame in Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l indicates a picture frame.

A block member II, has on one side 12 thereof substantially flat and secured to the back of the picture frame; the upper portion of said block member is formed with two slanting surfaces 13 and I4, and to one of said surfaces I3 is secured a prop, or supporting member 15, which has one end l6 thereof formed with an oblique surface ll fitting the surface l3, when the frame is set up. It will appear that the block member II is of a substantially triangular shape.

While the block member I l is fast on the picture frame 10, the prop I is turnably attached to said block member as a stud or bolt I8 connects the prop, block member and frame together in the respective manner hereinbefore set forth.

When the frame is set up, the prop l5 constitutes a stand-up support for said frame, while, when the prop is turned through an arc of degrees, said prop lies parallel to and in flat engagement with the back of the picture frame, as shown in Figure 2.

A slight modification is shown in Figures 3 and 4, although the features hereinbefore set forth controls the manner of the operation of my device shown in said Figures 3 and 4.

In the latter figures, the numeral l0 indicates the picture frame, which has a block member ll solidly secured to the back thereof; said block member is of a semirectangular shape, as when a rectangle is cut on a diagonal line.

A prop, or supporting member I5 is turnably arranged on top of said block member II' and connected to the latter and to the back of the frame I0 by means of a stud, or bolt Ill.

The said prop I5 is at its upper end formed with a portion 2|] bent to conform with and lie flat upon the upper surface l3 of the block member H; said portion 20 forms at its lower end 2! an obtuse angle with the major portion 22 of the prop IS.

The operation is here again the same as hereinbefore set forth, as the prop l5 will form a stand-up support for the frame III, while when the prop is turned through an arc of 180 degrees, said prop will lie parallel to and flat upon the back of the picture frame, as shown in Figure 4.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts, as shown, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, therefore, wish to limit myself to the exact construction shown and described herein.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

I claim:

1. A picture frame, a substantially triangular block member fixedly secured to the back of the latter, a prop turnably attached to said block member, and means for securing the picture frame, the block member and the prop together, said prop and block member having their engaging surfaces formed at an angle, whereby the prop, when swung from a position of support through a 180 degree angle, will lie parallel to and in flat engagement with the back of the picture frame.

2. A picture frame, a substantially triangular block member the latter having one fiat surface thereof fixedly secured to the back of said frame,

a prop adapted to support the frame and having one end thereof made with a fiat slanting surface adapted to engage a correspondingly fiat oblique surface of the block member, and a bolt for securing said frame, block member and prop together, the angles of the engaging surfaces of the block member and prop, and relative position with respect to each other being so as to permit the prop; when swung from a position of support through a 180 degree angle to lie parallel to and in flat engagement with the back of said frame.

3. A picture frame, a substantially triangular block member, the latter having one flat surface thereof fixedly secured to the back of said frame,

NORMAN E. OLIN.

frame. 

